Walking Carradale to Campbeltown

This section is a good days walking and takes you southwards through hugely varied countryside. From the superb rocky coastline at Waterfoot through pastureland and forest tracks right down past Saddell and then onto Lussa Loch, Campbeltown and Machrihanish

This section provides walkers with a snapshot of everything Kintyre has to offer.

Variety is the key ingredient on this section of the Kintyre Way and starting at Carradale through beautiful woodland paths you will carry on around the rocky coastline to Torrisdale and then over to the neighbouring Saddell Glen by way of forest tracks with wonderful views out to sea. From Saddell, forestry tracks take you across to the top of Lussa Loch, it is easy walking on good surfaces and following the west shore of the Loch you will head southwards towards Campbeltown.

Campbeltown is the largest town in Kintyre, with a population of around 6,000, and is accordingly well supplied with shops, accommodation, a swimming pool and other facilities. At the pier head is the lovely old Campbeltown Cross, originally erected in Kilkivan in about 1380. It was moved to Campbeltown in 1609 when the town became a burgh and was used as a market cross. There is a very good local history museum, with outstanding examples of Neolithic pottery, and also a Heritage Centre in an old church.

Campbeltown has long been famous as a centre for whisky making and at one time had no fewer than thirty four distilleries. Davaar Island lies within Campbeltown Loch and is linked to the shore at low tide by a natural shingle causeway called the Doirlinn (Isthmus). In a cave on the island is a painting of the Crucifixion carried out by Archibald MacKinnon in 1887.

Grading

22 milesAllow 7 - 10 hours

Ascent450m

Gravel footpath, rocky and sometimes rough forest road and tarmac minor roads. Long and short gentle slopes, with gates, bridges and public road crossings.